Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Neuroprotective effects of agmatine on dysregulation of major matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) isoforms induced by chronic maternal separation in a rodent model of developmental stress |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Faraz Ahmad, Vellore Institute Of Technology (VIT), Tamil Nadu |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | faraz.ahmad@vit.ac.in |
Equipments : | Tissue homogenizer
Digital camera
-20 Freezer
Behavioural mazes |
Details
Executive Summary : | Adverse early life experiences, such as psychological stress, can lead to permanent changes in neurodevelopmental trajectory, cognitive and social skills deficits, and increased vulnerability to stress and anxiety. Maternal-infant interaction is crucial for brain development and maturation, and manipulating it using maternal separation paradigms is a useful strategy to model neonatal neuropsychiatric stress. synapse function and its dynamic plasticity are complex interplays of molecular events and pathways. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are multifaceted regulators of synaptic signaling and plasticity, with MMP isoforms like MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, MMP13, and MT5-MMP being highly expressed in the brain. The proposed study aims to use a rodent model to study the impact of neonatal psychiatric stress on global and synapse-specific levels of key MMP forms and their inhibitor proteins at different developmental stages. The study will evaluate downstream MMP substrates with known roles in synapse signaling and plasticity and analyze the presence or absence of a correlative relationship between MMP levels and behavioral decline induced by maternal separation. The project also aims to evaluate the ameliorative effects of agmatine, a neuromodulant and neuroprotectant against deficits in MMP signaling and behavioral attributes induced by maternal separation. The results will contribute to understanding the roles of MMPs as a key regulator of brain function in health and disease, specifying the exact downstream molecular targets involved, and helping in designing beneficial therapeutic measures against neurological disorders. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Ramamoorthy siva, Vellore Institute Of Technology (VIT), Vellore Campus, Tamil Nadu-632014 |
Total Budget (INR): | 23,92,250 |
Organizations involved